As Balwork did what Apricus instructed he spoke in a patient manner after a few minutes had passed by.
"Uh I think my head is plenty clear now, probably?"
Apricus simply shook his head while giving feedback in a disapproval tone.
"Don't speak, don't think, don't move. Clear your head completely, relax your five senses. Simply reach within you to feel and sense your soul, communicate with it, be at peace with it, and realize its existence while having a clear understanding of it. Until you accomplish that you must not move or speak at all."
Balwork nodded as he continued meditating in a relaxed manner with his eyes shut and hands resting on his knees.
That was when Apricus returned to his mind.
'It took me around 2 months to simply feel and understand my soul, although I did have a couple of things holding me down from being quicker. If it's not the same case with him, one month should be enough, hopefully.'
And so as the thought passed in his mind Apricus took a seat on the ground in front of Balwork, sitting crossed leg in the exact same way, then he simply started meditating as well.
He felt his soul, inner thoughts, desires, ambitions, and anguish. Simply feeling and understanding them as he concentrated on his soul, its structure, its shape, quality, and quantity. Within his mind he expanded his soul to its limits horizontally, then condensed it to the limit, after that he simply created it into different objects; sometimes it was a hard and stiff book like shape, other times it was a soft squishy pillow. Then he expanded it once more on the vertical axis, flattening it and moving it around. Sometimes he flowed it around him like thick liquid other times it was stiff and hard. He had even let his soul return to normal, as it once again took Apricus's shape.
Apricus was simply training himself for better control over his soul so he used less of it while using skills or techniques. It was also because he needed to increase the quality and quantity of it as well, which was his main focus ever since he could remember.
So he continued this for the next hour alongside Balwork which had slightly surprised Apricus due to the fact he was not expecting a child to stay this focused for this long. After a while Apricus opened his eyes as he got up seeing Violet and Balwork in the same positions, he decided it was time for a break.
"Hey Balwork, I think it's time for a break, we can train the physical part next after we eat."
However there was no response, so Apricus spoke once more in a slightly louder tone.
"Balwork you there?"
However it was to no avail, and so Apricus simply sat back down and went back to meditating as he knew better than most to not bother or break someone's meditation, especially when they are concentrated to such a point. While there were a plethora of reasons for this, the most important would be the fact that once concentration was unintentionally and abruptly broken it would be much harder to mediate again then it was the initial time, although this would obviously not apply to Apricus since he was already somewhat experienced in the field.
Thus both Balwork and Apricus meditated for five more hours as Violet simply just stood there without moving an inch. However after a while, seemingly in the afternoon Apricus finally opened his eyes once again and got up, and just as he was about to call out to Balwork once more, Balwork shouted in a slightly irritated voice.
"Man!, this is way too hard!"
Apricus simply chuckled as he replied.
"Well to be honest you did pretty well meditating five hours in your first try is impressive to say the least, so how about we get something to eat, maybe Galaktoboureko?"
Balwork shook his head, still slightly irritated as he demanded.
"I want some ice cream!"
So Apricus simply followed Violet and Balwork to his favourite ice cream shop. As Apricus asked about Balwork's meditation.
"So do you feel like you made any kind of progress?"
Balwork, still quite sour, simply shook his head, causing him to let out a little chuckle.
"Hey! It isn't funny! I don't get it at all!"
Still chuckling, Apricus simply gave Balwork a tip.
"Don't worry if you keep it up at this pace you'll get there in a month which is already a quick pace."
The rest of the walk was in silence as they passed by many people and merchant sections, as Apricus noticed one peculiar thing, every one here dressed in robes, cloaks, or on rare occasions wearing a strange variation of a toga and cloak.
Although he was more worried and concentrated about other stuff when he first came this caused him to miss rather obvious details such as the fact there were large amounts of shaded glider pigeons around or in Aria Village, however that was not the only animal as there were plenty of coloured stripe mewcats, small sized felines coming in different colors including black, pink, yellow, blue, red, white, brown, and plenty more although they were always only one colour, never a mix of two. However there was an exception, they did have three black coloured strips on their fur, and the longer the stripes the older the cat, although that was not the only unique part of the coloured stripe mewcat as they also had long but sharp ears, making for quite the interesting visual.
After a while they finally reached the ice cream shop named "Icy Eats". It was rather plain looking, with two colours, blue and white, although unusually the aroma was quite nice, unfortunately Apricus couldn't admire it any longer as he was distracted by Balworks shouting.
"Yay! Can you get me the chocolate one please!"
Apricus nodded then looked over to Violet who simply shook her head. So he put in an order to a seemingly old man around his 100s.
"Uh two chocolate ice creams in a medium sized cone please"
As he handed over the coins while the old man silently handed over the ice cream cones. The three walked over to a nearby bench, sitting on it and eating ice cream in peace and quiet.
It was quite relaxing seeing people pass by, birds flying around, people going on about their life, it was something Apricus wasn't really accustomed to as he had never felt such peace in his life before. After a while however when Apricus finished his ice cream he turned around to Balwork.
"Well I do hope you enjoyed today however I don't have much to teach you until you finish the first step, when you do however, let Genso know and I'll instruct you further, until then good luck."
Balwork nodded as his smile dimmed ever so slightly. "Oh ok, thank you Apricus, I'll make you proud."
Apricus nodded with a smile as he got up walking away. He was originally planning on going back to his hotel, however he was once again stopped by Genso.
"Hey kid, we gotta talk."
Turning around, Apricus saw Genso with a slightly strange expression, however he continued.
"Let's walk around for a bit, this is urgent."
Apricus nodded quietly, slightly worried as he let Genso speak.
"Before I tell you the details you and Balwork were specifically picked for this because no one would suspect you two, not only due to the category and ranks but also because you two are new in this Village. Although I did try to argue against it, the chief is set on his decision and gave a formal order, so simply put my hands are tied, I can only tell you the details."
This made Apricus slightly more worried, after all he was supposed to be a stranger, why would the chief give him orders, however he kept quiet letting Genso continue.
"Now obviously Unholy Creatures are not the only ones after the holy flower, sometimes humans even work together with the more intelligent Unholy Creature's, creating more issues. Sipra Village is a village in the north just like ours however it's on more of the eastern side known for its military. They are also the main problem every 12 years when it comes to the holy flower, and we suspect they plan on using something that we can't counter, like a machine or Unholy Creature under their control to gain the holy flower once and for all. You and Balwork need to go to Sipea Village as spies after your date tomorrow and find out what it is. You're an intelligent man, you can fill in the blanks I presume."
Apricus laughed in a strange manner in his head as he nodded. Then he made a request catching Genso off guard.
"I refuse and I'm also aware this is a much more complicated mission than a simple information gathering. However if Tyche can come along, I'll consider it and it'll make our identities much more fool proof don't you think, and before you refuse remember nothing stops me from leaving. Or refusing to do the mission completely, after all I'm an outsider."
Genso simply sighed as he explained. "Fine then however the chief did not allow it so please be somewhat discreet. I'll mention the details to Balwork and send him towards the restaurant near midnight tomorrow then you shall depart, if Tyche refuses that is fine, however if she is suspected of feeding information to Sipea Village you both will be killed."
Apricus nodded as Genso disappeared, then he made his way to the hotel, preparing for his pain in the ass mission, as he thought to himself.
'Anything to make myself stronger.'